Extruded shapes



June 13, 1961 J s, CAMPBELL 2,988,182

EXTRUDED SHAPES Filed Aug. 5, 195% any, 5

INVEN TOR L/amZs S. Cam 06a ATTORNEY United States Patent 9 2,988,182 'EXTRUDED SHAPES James S. Campbell, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, assignor to Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada Filed Aug. 5, 1957, Ser. No. 676,138 3 Claims. (Cl. 189-41) This invention relates to structural metal members and structures incorporating such members.

Standard structural angle members do not have economical distribution of metal for loading conditions in towers, structural frames, and the like. Moreover, such members are not readily or conveniently subject to reinforcement by auxiliary members.

It is an object of this invention to provide a structural angle member capable of convenient association with other structural members to suit varying strength requirements.

Another object is to provide a structural angle member and a plurality of associated members having economical distribution of metal for strength without diflicult assembly of cross members.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a transverse sectional view of a structural member in accordance with the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a transverse sectional view of a modified form of structural member,

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view of a modified edge portion of the structural member,

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view of another modified edge portion of the structural member,

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic view of a typical tower construction wherein structural members in accordance with the invention may be advantageously employed, and

FIGURES 6 to 9, inclusive, are partial side elevations of various applications of the structural members.

Referring to the drawing, 1 is a structural angle member in accordance with the invention comprising a pair of fiat legs 2, a thickened portion or bulb 3 at the juncture of the legs, and a thickened portion or bulb 4 at the free edge of each leg. Each bulb 3 and 4 projects laterally beyond the plane of each side surface of each leg to therefore form recesses on each side of the leg which are defined by the legs and the bulbs.

The bulb angle member described possesses substantially increased efliciency as compared with a standard angle member. Thus, in a bulb angle member of 4 inches by 4 inches with a leg thickness of 34 inch and a bulb thickness of ,4 inch, the cross sectional area is 2.14 square inches. It has a moment of inertia about the gravity axis parallel to the legs of 4.6 inches 4. A standard 4" x 4" x 7in" angle member has a cross sectional area of 2.40 square inches and I =3.7 inches 4. The bulb angle member therefore has 12% less weight yet it has a value of I that is 25% greater. The value of HA of the standard member is 1.54 as compared to that of the bulb member of 2.15 or 40% better.

Further, in accordance with the invention, reinforcing, splicing or filler plates are associated with the bulb angle member, the shape of which is particularly suitable for such association. One such plate is indicated at 5 and comprises a fiat plate arranged to overlie one of the side surfaces of either leg 2 and to be secured thereto by any suitable means. The plate 5 has a thickness which is preferably approximately equal to the distance between the surface plane of a leg '2 and a parallel plane passing through the outer surface 6 of an adjoining bulb. The outer surfaces 6 of each bulb are preferably flat as shown. Thus, on application of a plate 5 to a side surface of a leg, its outer surface will be approximately flush with the outer surfaces 6 of the bulbs on each edge of the leg, in

order to provide an unobstructed flat surface for assembly with other structural members.

The width of plate 5 is preferably approximately equal to the width of a leg 2. To facilitate assembly and positioning of the plate on the bulb angle member, the edges of the plate may be bevelled for engagement with complementarily bevelled surfaces 7 on the bulbs 3 and 4. Alternatively, the edges of the plate 5 may be provided with a protruding bead 8, as shown in FIGURE 3, for engagement with a groove 9 in the bulb. It will be apparent that, in the latter case, the plate 5 will require axial application to the bulb angle member. In a further modification as shown in FIGURE 4, the plate edges may be square for engagement with a shoulder 10 on the bulb.

It will be understood that a plate 5 may be applied to one or both side surfaces of either or both legs 2 of a bulb angle member, as required.

If desired, the weight and cost of plate 5 may be reduced by recessing the interior surface thereof as indicated at 11.

Instead of or in conjunction with plates 5, an angle reinforcing or filler plate 12 may be provided as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. Plate 12 is adapted to be applied to the interior of bulb angle member 1 and has a pair of legs arranged to abut the interior surfaces of legs 2. Each leg of plate 12 is approximately coextensive in width with a leg 2 and the edges of the legs are, as shown, in abutment with the bulbs 4. A bevelled corner 13 at the juncture of the legs of plate 12 engages a complementary surface 14 on bulb 3. The thickness of plate '12 is the same as that of plate 5 and thus, when mounted on a bulb angle member 1, an unobstructed flat surface is provided for convenient assembly with other structural members.

FIGURES 6 to 10, inclusive, illustrate successive portions from top to bottom of a tower or frame structure such as diagrammatically shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 6 shows a portion of the upper end of the structure and comprises an upright member 15 and a cross member 16 of standard angle construction.

FIGURE 7 shows a bulb angle member 1 with a relatively short section of interior angle plate 12 mounted thereon. This provides a fiat surface for reception of the lower end of upright 15 and for mounting of a cross member 17 and an angular brace 18. Rivets or the like 19 secure the assembly together.

In FIGURE 8, the bulb angle member 1 is a continuation of that shown in FIGURE 7 and is provided with a relatively short section of interior angle plate 12 for connection thereto of another cross member 117 and angular brace 18. A similar structure may be employed for mounting of additional cross members and braces at intervals on the tower frame.

FIGURE 9 illustrates the structure adjacent the bottom of the tower frame wherein a relatively long section of interior angle plate 12 is mounted in the bulb angle member 1, and another cross member 17 and brace 18 secured thereto in the manner previously described.

FIGURE 10 shows the bottom portion of the tower frame which includes a continuation of the bulb angle member 1 and interior angle plate 12 shown in FIGURE 9. Again, a cross member 17 and 18 is secured thereto in the manner previously described. A relatively short length of reinforcing plate 5 may be secured to the outer face of a leg 2 of bulb angle member 1.

The use of an interior angle plate 12 with a plate or plates 5 applied to the external surfaces of bulb angle member I greatly facilities the splicing of lengths of the bulb angle member. Moreover, use of plates 5 on the external surfaces of the bulb angle member makes possible the convenient fastening thereto of external braces or like equipment. The interior angle plate :12 is of course 3 of much utility in ensuring easy attachment of internal braces as will be clear from FIGURES 7 to 10, inclusive.

Plates and 12 are also useful Where local strength conditions dictate the need of reinforcement and will, in many cases, eliminate the necessity of providing gusset plates. Furthermore, employment of such plates 5 and 12 Will reduce the number of fasteners required since bearing capacity will be increased per fastener with use of such plates.

The center of gravity of the interior angle plate 12 may coincide with the center of gravity of the bulb angle member whereby the transfer of an axial tensile or compressive load will not impose eccentric stress which would cause bending.

I claim:

1. In a tower for elevated water tanks and the like having upright members joined together by cross members and angular braces, the improvement comprising, in combination, upright members of bulb iron angles, said bulb iron angles having edge bulbs and a juncture bulb joined together by Webs extending at right angles from said juncture bulb, said webs having inner and outer plane surfaces, said edge bulbs having fiat surfaces in planes parallel to and equally spaced from said inner and outer plane surfaces of said webs forming weight and reinforecement receiving recesses at each web, said juncture bulb having a pair of flat surfaces, one of said flat surfaces of said juncture bulb being in the plane of said fiat surface of one of said edge bulbs spaced from said outer surface of one web and said other fiat surface of said juncture bulb being in the plane of said fiat surface of said other edge bulb spaced from said outer surface of the other web, reinforcing plates at the juncture of said cross members and angular braces with said upright members, each of said reinforcing plates having inner and outer flat surfaces substantially coextensive with said recesses, said inner flat surface of said reinforcing plate being contiguous with said web of said upright member at said juncture and said outer fiat surface of said reinforcing plate being in the plane of said fiat surface of said edge bulb spaced from said flat surface of said web.

2. In structural bulb iron angles having a pair of legs extending at right angles from the juncture of a common lateral edge of each leg to a free lateral edge spaced from said juncture and having a bulb on each of said free lateral edges of said legs with the intermediate portions of said legs having plane inner and outer surfaces, the improvement comprising, in combination, said edge bulbs having flat surfaces in planes parallel to said inner and said outer plane surfaces of said intermediate portions of said legs, all of said flat surfaces of said edge bulbs being equally spaced outwardly from said inner and outer surfaces of said legs to form weight saving and reinforcement receiving recesses at each leg, a juncture bulb at said juncture of said legs, said juncture bulb having a pair of flat surfaces, one of said pair of fiat surfaces of said juncture bulb being in the plane of the flat surface of one of said edge bulbs spaced from said outer surface of one of said legs and the other of said pair of flat surfaces of said juncture bulb being in the plane of the fiat surface of the other of said edge bulbs spaced from the outer surface of the other of said legs. said edge bulbs being undercut adjacent said inner and outer surfaces of said intermediate portions of said legs.

3. In structural bulb iron angles having a pair of legs extending at right angles from the juncture of a common lateral edge of each leg to a free lateral edge spaced from said juncture and having a bulb on each of said free lateral edges of said legs with the intermediate portions of said legs having plane inner and outer surfaces, the improvement com-prising, in combination, said edge bulbs having flat surfaces in planes parallel to said inner and said outer plane surfaces of said intermediate portions of said legs, all of said flat surfaces of said edge bulbs being equally spaced outwardly from said inner and outer surfaces of said legs to form weight saving and reinforcement receiving recesses at each leg, a juncture bulb at said juncture of said legs, said juncture bulb having a pair of fiat surfaces, one of said pair of fiat surfaces of said juncture bulb being in the plane of the fiat surface of one of said edge bulbs spaced from said outer surface of one of said legs, the other of said pair of fiat surfaces of said juncture bulb being in the plane of the flat surface of the other of said edge bulbs spaced from the outer surface of the other of said legs, and said juncture bulb having a plane surface extending to each of said inner surfaces of said intermediate portions of said legs, said edge bulbs being undercut adjacent said inner and outer surfaces of said intermediate portions of said legs.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1, 100,742 Kane June 23, 1914 1,573,215 Yorke Feb. 16, 1926 2,382,835 Watter Aug. 14, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS 405,551 Great Britain Feb. 8, 1934 478,442 Great Britain Ian. 19, 1938 

